"
"But the situation is serious, just the same," declared
Ned. "Tom has gone to keep an appointment I never made, and
the question is with whom will he keep it?"
"That's it!" cried the eccentric man. "Probably some of
those scoundrels were waiting at the farm for him, and
they've got him no one knows where by this time!"
"Oh, hardly as bad as that," suggested Ned. "Tom is able
to look out for himself. He'd put up a big fight before he'd
permit himself to be carried off."
"Well, what do you think did happen?" asked Mr. Damon.
"I think they wanted to get him out to the farm to see if
they couldn't squeeze some more money out of him," was the
answer. "Tom was pretty easy in that barn business, and I
guess Kanker was sore because he haven't asked a larger sum.
They knew Tom wouldn't come out on their own invitation, so
they forged my name, so to speak."
"Can you get Tom back?" asked Mrs. Baggert anxiously.
"Of course!" declared Ned, though it must be admitted he
spoke with more confidence than he really felt. "We'll begin
the search right away.
Pages:
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178